Immunotherapy with mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) extract: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Abstract

Background: Mosquito allergy is well established, but mosquito immunotherapy requires validation using clinical and immunologic variables.

Objective: To evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of specific immunotherapy with Culex quinquefasciatus (mosquito) extract.

Methods: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of immunotherapy for 1 year in 40 patients with asthma, rhinitis, or both. Patients were evaluated by means of intradermal testing, symptom and drug scores, and histamine provocation testing before and after 1 year of immunotherapy. Mosquito specific IgE and IgG subclass antibody responses were evaluated at the basal level and after 1 year.

Results: Patients receiving allergen immunotherapy for 1 year showed a significant improvement compared with baseline and patients receiving placebo regarding skin reactions, symptom scores (rhinitis and asthma), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second. Provocation concentration of histamine that caused a decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 20% by inhalation was elevated in the group receiving immunotherapy. In the active group serologic analysis showed a slight reduction in IgE levels (P = .02) but a significant elevation in IgG4 levels (P = .001), with a significant decrease in the IgE/IgG4 ratio (P = .001). All these changes in the placebo group were nonsignificant.

Conclusions: Allergen immunotherapy with mosquito extract was well tolerated, with improvement in symptoms and airway reactivity. Good clinical outcome was associated with increased IgG4 antibody levels.